Page 26 of Harvest Maze

It was mine now.

Demyan dropped his cheek against mine, still holding me as though I weighed nothing. “Are you okay, Ivry?”

“Yes,” I whispered. “I’m perfect.”

Chapter 12 – Demyan

Ivry wobbled slightly when I set her down. Holding her upper arms, I felt the shiver rattle her bones.

“Was that okay?” Fuck. What if it had been too much? What if I’d hurt her? I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. She deserved so much better than me. But walking away now was out of the question.

Ivry stepped closer and took a deep breath. It was like she was breathing me in. A strange warmth spread through my chest at the thought.

“That was incredible,” she whispered. “How did you know I wanted it?”

This was the part where I told her my secret. If this relationship was going to work, she had to know the truth. The warmth vanished, and I was suddenly cold. Cold enough to shiver.

“I overheard you at the coffee shop. But…I also saw the books you read.”

“You did?”

Do riti! I needed to tell her this. We weren’t going to start this relationship with secrets. Well…not with many secrets. I wasn’t ready to tell her what I was, but she needed to know she could trust me. Which meant telling her the truth about watching her.

“I was the one who snuck into your house,” I said, keeping my voice low.

Ivry gasped softly. “You? You were there the other night?”

I nodded solemnly. “It wasn’t the first time.”

She contemplated that for a moment. “You were my secret elf!”

“Uh….”

She shook with a strange joy. “You did my laundry. The dishes. My floor? You mopped the floor?”

I nodded again. “All me, kráska. I’ve been spying on you.”

Instead of pulling away, a smile split across her face. “You snooped! You figured out the…you figured out all the crazy things I want to try!”

I pursed my lips. “They’re not crazy.”

Ivry let out a short laugh. I swore the noise glittered in the moonlight. “Being chased by a masked man or tied up in bed while I’m asleep and then woken up by a rough sex session is pretty crazy.”

“I’ll do it with you.” I smoothed my hand over her hair. “I’m your guy.”

Wrapping her arms tightly around my middle, Ivry pressed her cheek against my stomach. It was going to rub off that elaborate face paint. It was beautiful, artfully done! But having her this close was better.

Especially when she murmured, “You’re my guy.”

“Aren’t you mad?” I insisted. “I broke into your house!”

Ivry shrugged. “If it was anyone else. But it’s cute. It was you.”

Words failed me.

“Besides, I’d like to think of it as your place….” Uncertainty made her pause. “If you want it to be.”

“I very much do,” I responded quickly.